Feeling really flat and deflated about new job

[DeflatedAboutNewJob]

I've recently started a new job in a school. I've always wanted to work with kids and dreamt of maybe doing a PGCE some day and becoming a teacher.

Now I'm finally working in a school and hopefully getting enough experience of working in that environment to progress to applying for TA jobs etc...I feel massively flat about it.

I can't put my finger on what the problem is. The kids are fine. It's secondary so a bit of sulkiness / cheekiness from a few, but generally lovely kids. It's a great school with a great reputation and I'm lucky to be working there, but there's something that feels as if I've retired already, (in my thirties), or something?

I have no right to be moaning. It's an easy going job, works around my own dcs term times etc etc, but I'm feeling really down about it.

Has anyone else gone from a non school job to working in a school and just found it really disappointing? I can't go back back old job and it had some pretty serious problems, but I could go back to my old industry. It wouldn't and didn't work around family life at all though.

I'm being a big old crybaby here I realise and I'm lucky to have a job.

Bump

Wait until the holidays if you are term time only, totally worth it especially if you aren't teaching staff so don't have to work at all.

School work is very cyclical, you've just entered the most stressful time with mocks and GCSEs soon. Everyone is overworked and stressed after the last two years. Give it a trial for a full year first before deciding its not for you.

In some schools, TAs are valued and the work can be really rewarding (I say this as a teacher repeating what TAs have said to me). In others, it's, um, different.

What sort of role gives you experience to apply for TA posts? A lot of the TAs appointed (again, only from what I've seen) have zero or minimal school experience.

You say you feel as if you have retired. Are you finding the job understimulating? Or is the working with teenagers making you feel old

Is this an office based job rather than directly with pupils? If so, being a TA will be quite different I would imagine.

What is it you do where progression would be a ta?

I loved working in a school. I was not a good whole class teacher but a good TA. Sadly I couldn't afford to keep doing it. Having lots of time off but no money isn't a great mix.

What role are you doing now?

Thanks for responses

At the moment I'm doing admin plus lunchtime supervisor duties, so I get experience working with that age group but also can make up my hours to a whole school day and thereabouts.

I do want to get more experience working with secondary age kids before I apply for TA.

Maybe giving it a whole school year is the right thing to do, but I do feel a bit as if I've put myself out to pasture! My last industry was very family unfriendly in terms of hours and culture. A lot of heavy drinkers, functioning addicts and sleazy men working there (although it was a completely legitimate business and industry). I don't even drink, so it was not my scene in that way, and the hours were so crap for family, but at the same time, I didn't feel so out of touch with society when I was working there. I think probably being in the office and then only lunchtime supervisor is the issue and if and when I do get a TA job, I won't feel so out of things.

@lovelyweathertoday

I loved working in a school. I was not a good whole class teacher but a good TA. Sadly I couldn't afford to keep doing it. Having lots of time off but no money isn't a great mix.

What role are you doing now?

We could afford it, temporarily and then I'd do my pgce hopefully, but obviously it's a financial hit and an investment

I suspect rhe role is just dull for you.

Admin? No wonder you are bored. Get into the classroom!

There is often lots of internal movement within schools, they are often keen to promote/move people from within so have a chat with the SENCO and let them know you are interested in TAing. What subject is your degree in? It might be worth talking to the Head of Department about shadowing or observing lessons, if not now you could have it put into your appraisal.

Other routes include being a cover supervisor providing in class cover when teachers are absent.

TAs at Secondary tend to take home between £800-£1400 and are often expected to provide occasional cover when necessary.

Cover supervisors earn a bit more and in my school work as TAs when not needed to cover lessons.

Other areas of working with students but not teaching include going down the pastoral and safeguarding route.

Honestly, get a TA job. What you're doing now isn't preparation for being a TA - you're on the edges of everything, and you're not getting any idea of what classroom work is like.

If it is a decent size school op, more opportunities will arise internally.
Get yourself a good reputation for being reliable and punctual etc then think about moving to another role

Thanks all. I think you're all right (even if the advice had not been exactly the same from everyone). It is a great school and if something else came up there which I could go for, it would be really good.

I am not built for office work at all